ATTRACTIONS | Places to Eat | Where to Stay

Things to See and Do

If you will be around a little longer in Miami, there are tons of things to do and see. We offer just a handful here in no particular order:

Miami Design District

The Design District  (2010)

140 NE 39th Street, Miami, FL 33137 | miamidesigndistrict.com
From Biscayne Boulevard to the east to North Miami Avenue on the west,
and from NE 36th Street on the south, to NE 42nd Street on the north

Park in the parking garage (NW corner of NE 38th St and NE 2nd Avenue)
and the stairs will bring you up into this “Fly’s Eye” geodesic dome by
Buckminster Fuller. A designer shopping destination and cultural hub,
it offers live events, restaurants, museums, hotels, and art collections.

General Hours: Mon.-Sat. 11AM-8PM, Sun. 12-6PM | Hours may vary.

History Miami museum makeshift boat

History Miami Museum “HMM” (1940)

101 West Flagler Street, Miami, FL 33130 | historymiami.org

Founded in 1940 as the Historical Museum of South Florida, HMM houses
4 permanent galleries and up to 3 traveling exhibits. In July 2011, HMM
became part of the prestigious Smithsonian Institution Affiliations Program,
which brings world-acclaimed Smithsonian exhibitions to South Florida.
Core Exhibitions: Tropical Dreams: A People’s History of South Florida
Whitman Family Gallery | Folklife Gallery | Miami, The Magic City | It’s a Miami Thing

Open Wed.-Sat. 10AM-5PM, Sunday 12-5PM | Closed Mon. + Tues.

Perez Art Museum facing Biscayne Bay, Miami

Pérez Art Museum Miami “PAMM” (1984)

1103 Biscayne Blvd., Miami, FL 33132 | pamm.org 

Officially the “Jorge M. Pérez Art Museum of Miami-Dade County,” this
Modern and Contemporary Art Museum right on Biscayne Bay offers
waterfront dining, hanging gardens, and a permanent collection of
3,000 works of art (a selection of which is on display) in 8 galleries
within a 2-story building designed by Herzog & de Meuron.

Mon. 11AM-6PM, Closed Tues.+Wed., Thurs. 11AM-9PM, Fri.-Sun. 11AM-6PM

Vizcaya Museum and Gardens

Vizcaya Museum and Gardens (1914-1922)

3251 South Miami Ave., Miami, FL 33129 | vizcaya.org

The winter residence of Industrialist James Deering built as a (then) modern and
tropical interpretation of an eighteenth-century Italian villa, this impressive
home has extensive gardens and a waterfront ‘folly’ stone barge that serves as a
breakwater. It has been featured in a number of movies, including: The Money Pit,
Bad Boys 3, Ace Ventura: Pet Detective, and Iron Man 3.

Wed.-Mon. 9:30 AM-4:30 PM, Closed Tuesdays, Thanksgiving, Christmas
Online tickets are required, unless you’re getting specific discounted tickets at the
admission window. Special events are frequently offered in the evenings.

Known as the “Tea House” the breathtaking views from this seaside gazebo at Vizcaya make it the most romantic spot in Miami!
Vizcaya Museum gazebo, the most romantic spot in Miami
Wynwood Miami at night with full moon

Wynwood District (Est. 1917)

Between I-95 on the west, and Federal Highway (train tracks) on the east,
Wynwood is bounded by NW 20th Street to the south and NW 37th Street to the north.

Miami’s hub of art and culture, Wynwood is an industrial district turned hipster mecca.
The impact of graffiti artists moving art off the canvas to the outdoors was immeasurably
impactful, literally and figuratively—street after street, the walls explode with color. The
art, shops, and restaurants are ever-changing, making it a fun place to wander around.
Nightlife is a big draw for a younger crowd.

Wynwood Walls” event space + museum is located 2214 NW 1st Place, Miami, FL 33127.

 

CORAL GABLES Attractions

Alhambra Water Tower, Coral Gables landmark folly

Alhambra Water Tower (1924)

2000 Alhambra Circle, Coral Gables, FL 33134 | coralgables.com/attractions

Designed by Denman Fink, the uncle of Coral Gables city founder George Merrick,
this “lighthouse” was part of the City’s water supply until 1931. The structure is now
empty but there is no entry. The preservation of this “folly” structure is one of the
many beautiful architecture features of the Gables, which includes 7 themed villages
with homes in Dutch South African, Chines, French Normandy, Florida Pioneer/Colonial,
French City, and Italian styles (photos). The Gables features largely “Mediterranean”
and Spanish style architecture, including coral rock homes with gable style roofs,
which is where the name originated. A fine example is Merrick House (907 Coral Way),
offering tours on weekends only: Sat.+Sun. at 1, 2, and 3PM (cash only).

Fairchild Tropical Botanic Gardens

Fairchild Tropical Botanic Gardens (1938)

10901 Old Cutler Road, Miami, FL 33156 | fairchildgarden.org

Established by Robert H. Montgomery, who named it after his friend David Fairchild,
the garden covers 83 lush acres with rare tropical plants including palms, cycads,
flowering trees, and vines. Walk the grounds or check in at The Shop for the tram tour
schedule/availability. The Glasshouse Café is open Mon.-Sat. 10:30 AM-4PM.

Daily 10AM-5PM | Offers Member, Adult, Senior, and Children (under 2 free) prices

Matheson Hammock Park showing manmade lagoon

Matheson Hammock Park (1930)

9610 Old Cutler Road, Miami, FL 33156 | miamidade.gov/parks

With 630 acres of wetlands set aside to preserve the wild coastal beauty of Miami,
this park offers a man-made atoll pool, historic coral rock buildings, marina, picnic
area, and Chef Donatella Arapaia’s Noma Beach at Redfish Italian/seafood restaurant.
Parking is available using the Pay by Phone app.

Open “Sunrise to Sunset” 8AM-5PM | No admission fee + No pets allowed
Keep to the left to reach the atoll | The walking/bike trail is underwater.

Shops at Merrick Park luxury mall in Coral Gables showing fountain

Shops at Merrick Park (2002)

358 San Lorenzo Avenue, Coral Gables, FL 33146

Large, luxury open-air, three-story shopping mall with approx. 90 stores, 5 restaurants,
and a 7-screen cinema “The Landmark at Merrick Park” on the top level. Anchor stores
are Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom, and Equinox Fitness, and popular brands including:
Tiffany & Co., Jimmy Choo, Tory Burch, Luis Vuitton, Lilly Pulitzer, and Carolina
Herrera.

Open 11AM-8PM, Mon.-Thurs., until 9PM Fri. + Sat., and 6PM on Sun.

Venetian Pool, Coral Gables

Venetian Pool (1924)

2701 De Soto Boulevard, Coral Gables, FL 33134 | coralgables.com

Very large, Italian-themed, rock-grotto style pool, open year-round to the public.
Created from a limestone quarry pit, it was opened as the “Venetian Casino”
a high-society venue that featured “golden age of Hollywood” swimming stars
Johnny Weismuller and Esther Williams who appeared there to large crowds.

CURRENTLY UNDER EXTENSIVE RENOVATION
Open Tues.-Fri. 11AM-5:30 PM, Sat. + Sun. 10AM-4:30 PM | Closed Mondays

 

COCONUT GROVE Attractions

The Barnacle, historic residence and State park

The Barnacle Historic State Park (1891)

3485  Main Highway, Miami, FL 33133 | thebarnacle.org

This historic waterfront house, carriage house, boathouse, and sailboat was the
residence of yacht maker and Miami pioneer Commodore Ralph Middleton Munroe
Located in the heart of downtown Coconut Grove, the site was originally 40 acres.
The Florida Park Service acquired the 5-acre site from his descendants in 1973.

Open 9AM-5PM Fri.-Wed., Closed Thurs. | $2 entry fee +  on-street metered parking
House entry by tour only for additional $3 fee. See website for schedule. (VIDEO)

The Kampong historic home in Coconut Grove, Florida

The Kampong (1916)

4013 Douglas Road, Miami, FL 33133 | ntbg.org/gardens/kampong

The Kampong is a National Tropical Botanical Garden (NTBG) and historic home of famed
horticulturalist Dr. David Fairchild and his wife Marian. The estate is 9 acres set on Biscayne
Bay in the residential area of Coconut Grove.

Daily 9AM – 4:30PM Tues.-Sat. with Guided or Self-Guided Tours 9AM, 11AM, 1PM, 3PM
Buy Tickets Online (under 3 free) | No pets | Limited on-site parking (VIDEO)

 

City of Miami, City Hall, Coconut Grove, Florida

Miami City Hall (1934)

3500 Pan American Drive, Miami, FL 33133

The City of Miami’s City Hall has been located in the Miami neighborhood
known as “Coconut Grove” since 1954. Back on to the Bay, the building
started out as a seaplane terminal for Pan American Airlines.
(pictured below, downtown Coconut Grove)

 

Coconut Grove, Miami, FL
Plymouth Congregational Church, Coral Gables, FL

Plymouth Congregational Church (1917)

3429 Devon Road, Miami, FL 33133

Looking like something straight out of a pirate movie, Plymouth Congregational
Church is a beautiful example of Mission Revival Architecture. Wild peacocks often
roam the streets around the church.

 

MIAMI BEACH Attractions

Bal Harbour Shops, ultra-luxury mall in Bal Harbour (Miami Beach), Florida

Bal Harbour Shops (1965)

9700 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach, FL 33154

A block from the beach, Bal Harbour Shops is a lush, open-air 2-story mall named
for an affluent Miami Beach suburb. With Neiman Marcus and Saks Fifth Avenue
as anchors, the mallwas ranked #1 of the top 5 Most Profitable Malls in the World.
It’s the most likely place in Miami to see a celebrity or two. In the dictionary under:
“If you have to ask, you can’t afford it!”

Open Mon.-Sat. 11AM-10PM, Sun. 12-6PM

Lincoln Road Mall, Miami Beach, Florida

Lincoln Road Mall (1912)

1001 Washington Avenue, Miami Beach, FL 33139 (2 blocks from the beach)

The stretch of Lincoln Road from Washington Avenue to the east and Alton Road
on the west makes up the “mall.” The ultimate people-watching destination runs
8 blocks long with a median and features 200 shops, cafés, galleries, public art,
classes taking place, performances, and some unique architecture (like the
famous Herzog & de Meuron multi-purpose parking garage pictured below).

General Business Hours:  10AM – 11PM (varies by vendor)

Herzog and de Meuron parking garage, Miami Beach
Ocean Drive "South Beach" (SoBe)

Ocean Drive (1920s-30s)

As it’s named, Ocean Drive begins at the tip of South Pointe Beach and extends
parallel to the beach north to 15th Street in an area know as “South Beach” (SoBe).
Lined with iconic pastel Art Deco buildings, housing, hotels, restaurants, and bars,
Ocean Drive is famous for its nightlife. 5th Street is inline with the McArthur
Causeway (395), which brings you over Biscayne Bay, past the cruise ships, the
Port of Miami, and some of Miami’s most expensive residences on Star, Palm, and
Hibiscus Islands. South of 5th Street (SoFi), it’s more residential.

The annual South Beach Food and Wine Festival takes place on the beach in front of
Ocean Drive and at various locations around Miami.

The Wolfsonian (art deco) Museum, Miami Beach

The Wolfsonian (1927/1995)

1001 Washington Avenue, Miami Beach, FL 33139

This wonderful museum focused on material culture is located in the heart of Miami
Beach’s Art Deco District. It is a museum, library, and research center that uses its
collection of 180,000 pieces from 1885-1945 to illustrate the persuasive power
of art and design.

Open Wed.-Sun. 10AM-6PM (Friday 9PM)

Reading Room open by appointment only:
Mon.-Fri. 9AM-5PM and Sat. 11AM-5:30 PM